Automatic Field Calibration of Force Input Sensors
First Claim
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1. An input sensor comprising:
- a force-sensitive structure coupled to a substrate and comprising a plurality of force sensors, each force sensor coupled to a separate area of the substrate;
an input resolver in communication with the force-sensitive structure and configured to;
measure an output by each force sensor when a compressive force is applied to an input location of the substrate;
modify the measurement of each force sensor based on an output of a mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that the magnitude of force applied at the input location does not exceed a selected threshold; and
update the mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that the magnitude of force applied at the input location exceeds the selected threshold, and output the measurements of each force sensor as a force input to the electronic device.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for calibrating a force input device are disclosed. The force input device includes a force-sensitive structure with a number of individual force sensors that compress or expand in response to input. The force input device measures an electrical property of the force sensors of the force-sensitive structure. After the force sensors are measured, the values obtained are adjusted based on a mechanical model of the response of the force sensitive structure. Upon receiving a force input event of high magnitude, the force input device recalibrates the mechanical model.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An input sensor comprising:
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a force-sensitive structure coupled to a substrate and comprising a plurality of force sensors, each force sensor coupled to a separate area of the substrate; an input resolver in communication with the force-sensitive structure and configured to; measure an output by each force sensor when a compressive force is applied to an input location of the substrate; modify the measurement of each force sensor based on an output of a mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that the magnitude of force applied at the input location does not exceed a selected threshold; and update the mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that the magnitude of force applied at the input location exceeds the selected threshold, and output the measurements of each force sensor as a force input to the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An input sensor comprising:
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a force-sensitive structure coupled to a substrate and having an electrical property that changes as a function of a magnitude of force to the substrate; an input resolver in communication with the force-sensitive structure and configured to update a mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that the force-sensitive structure has received a magnitude of force input that exceeds the selected threshold. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15-24. -24. (canceled)
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25. An electronic device comprising:
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a housing; an input surface coupled to the housing; an input sensor comprising a force-sensitive structure coupled to the input surface, the input sensor having an electrical property that changes as a function of a magnitude of force applied at a location on the input surface; an input resolver coupled to the input sensor and configured to; measure the electrical property of the force-sensitive structure; modify the measurement based on a mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that the measurement corresponds to a magnitude of force that does not exceed a selected threshold; and update the mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that the measurement corresponds to a magnitude of force that exceeds the selected threshold. - View Dependent Claims (26, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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27. (canceled)
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32-40. -40. (canceled)
Specification